Bottle cap having a latch ring portion that is formed with reinforcing ribs

ABSTRACT

A bottle cap includes a cover body adapted to be sleeved on a neck of a bottle, a latch ring portion having a lower peripheral margin with a plurality of integral retaining fins extending upwardly and inwardly therefrom, and a plurality of frangible tabs for interconnecting integrally the cover body and the latch ring portion. The retaining fins have upper ends adapted to be disposed under the flange of the bottle so as to prevent removal of the cap from the neck of the bottle. Each retaining fin has a pair of inclined inner and outer side surfaces, one of which is formed with a plurality of integral reinforcing ribs that are spaced apart from one another along the circumferential direction of the latch ring portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 091216487, filed on Oct. 16, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The invention relates to a bottle cap, more particularly to a bottle cap, which has a latch ring portion that is formed with reinforcing ribs.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional bottle cap 1 includes a cover body 11, a tamper resistant latch ring portion 12, and a plurality of frangible tabs 14 for interconnecting the cover body 11 and the latch ring portion 12. The cover body 11 has an internally threaded section 111. The latch ring portion 12 has a lower peripheral margin that is formed integrally with a plurality of retaining fins 13, which extend upwardly and inwardly therefrom and which are arranged along a circumferential direction of the latch ring portion 12.

[0006] When the cap 1 is sleeved onto the neck 21 of the bottle 2, with the retaining fins 13 of the cap 1 latching beneath an annular flange 211 of the neck 21 of the bottle 2, rotation of the cap 1 on the bottle 2 can rupture the frangible tabs 14, thereby separating the cover body 11 from the latch ring portion 12. Then, the cap 1 is rotated gradually out of the neck 21 of the bottle 2 to accomplish opening of the bottle 2. However, during formation of the retaining fins 13, material cost and molding cost are considered from a cost-effective standpoint such that the resulting thickness of each retaining fin 13 is relatively thin. As such, the retaining fins 13 of the conventional bottle cap 1 are easily deformed when the bottle cap 1 is rotated initially on the bottle 2, thereby affecting adversely opening of the bottle 2.

[0007] Referring to FIG. 3, another conventional bottle cap 3 has been proposed to overcome the above drawback encountered with the aforesaid conventional bottle cap 1, and is shown to be substantially similar in construction to the conventional bottle cap 1. The main difference, however, resides in that the retaining fins 33 are formed integrally with one another on the lower peripheral margin of the latch ring portion 32, and are formed with a plurality of ridges 34 that can increase the strength of the retaining fins 33. Although the structure of the retaining fins 33 is stronger, the material cost incurred is increased, and the molding process is more complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a bottle cap, which has a latch ring portion formed with reinforcing ribs that are capable of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

[0009] According to the present invention, a bottle cap is adapted to cover an upper end opening in a neck of a bottle. The neck has an outer surface that is formed with an integral annular flange. The bottle cap comprises a cover body, a latch ring portion, and a plurality of frangible tabs. The cover body is adapted to be sleeved on the neck of the bottle so as to cover the opening in the bottle. The latch ring portion is connected to and is disposed under the cover body, and has a lower peripheral margin that is formed integrally with a plurality of molded retaining fins, which extend upwardly and inwardly therefrom and which are arranged along a circumferential direction of the latch ring portion. The retaining fins have upper ends that are adapted to be disposed under and that are adapted to be disposed adjacent to the flange of the bottle so as to prevent removal of the cap from the neck of the bottle. Each of the retaining fins has a pair of inclined inner and outer side surfaces, one of which is formed with a plurality of integral reinforcing ribs that are spaced apart from one another along the circumferential direction of the latch ring portion. The frangible tabs interconnect integrally the cover body and the latch ring portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional bottle cap;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the conventional bottle cap of FIG. 1 in a state of use;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another conventional bottle cap;

[0014]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a bottle cap according to the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating how the first preferred embodiment is sleeved onto a bottle;

[0016]FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating how the first preferred embodiment is retained on the bottle after engagement with the bottle;

[0017]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of a bottle cap according to the present invention; and

[0018]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the third preferred embodiment of a bottle cap according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, the first preferred embodiment of a bottle cap 4 according to the present invention is adapted to cover an upper end opening in a neck 51 of a bottle 5, and is shown to comprise a cover body 41, a latch ring portion 42, and a plurality of frangible tabs 43. The neck 51 of the bottle 5 has an outer surface that is formed with an externally threaded section 511 and an integral annular flange 512.

[0021] The cover body 41 is adapted to be sleeved on the neck 51 of the bottle 5 so as to cover the opening in the bottle 5, and has an internally threaded section 411.

[0022] The latch ring portion 42 is connected to and is disposed under the cover body 41, and has a lower peripheral margin 421 that is formed integrally with a plurality of molded retaining fins 422, which extend upwardly and inwardly therefrom and which are arranged along a circumferential direction of the latch ring portion 42. In this embodiment, each adjacent pair of the retaining fins 422 are spaced apart from each other. The retaining fins 422 have upper ends 423 that are adapted to be disposed under and that are adapted to be disposed adjacent to the flange 512 of the bottle 5 so as to prevent removal of the cap 4 from the neck 51 of the bottle 5. Each of the retaining fins 422 has a pair of inclined inner and outer side surfaces 424, 425. The inclined outer side surface 425 of each of the retaining fins 422, in this embodiment, is formed with five integral reinforcing ribs 426 that are spaced apart from one another along the circumferential direction of the latch ring portion 42. Each of the reinforcing ribs 426 is wedge-shaped.

[0023] The frangible tabs 43 interconnect integrally the cover body 41 and the latch ring portion 42.

[0024] In use, when the cap 4 is sleeved onto the bottle 5, it is rotated on the neck 51 of the bottle 5, with the internally threaded section 411 of the cap 4 engaging the externally threaded section 511 of the neck 51 of the bottle 5. During assembly of the cap 4 on the bottle 5, the flange 512 of the bottle 5 presses against the retaining fins 422 of the latch ring portion 42, as best shown in FIG. 5, so that the retaining fins 422 are pushed outwardly until the retaining fins 422 pass through and latch beneath the flange 512, as best illustrated in FIG. 6. The cap 4 is screwed tightly onto and is retained on the bottle 5 at this moment. When the cap 4 is to be removed from the bottle 5 for the first time, since the retaining fins 422 of the latch ring portion 42 are latched beneath the flange 512 of the bottle 5, rotation of the cap 4 in a direction away from the neck 51 of the bottle 5 can rupture the frangible tabs 43, thereby separating the cover body 41 from the latch ring portion 42 of the cap 4, and thereby accomplishing opening of the bottle 5 for the first time.

[0025] From the above description of the first preferred embodiment, it is apparent that separation of the cover body 41 from the latch ring portion 42 of the bottle cap 4 is accomplished by pulling forces existing between the retaining fins 422 of the latch ring portion 42 and the cover body 41. Furthermore, the presence of the reinforcing ribs 426 on the retaining fins 422 of the latch ring portion 42 can strengthen the structure of the retaining fins 422 without a considerable affect on the material cost. Moreover, molding process of the retaining fins 422 is kept relatively simple. Referring to FIG. 7, the second preferred embodiment of a bottle cap 6 according to the present invention is shown to be substantially similar to the first preferred embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the reinforcing ribs 626 are disposed on the inclined inner side surfaces 624 of the retaining fins 622.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 8, the third preferred embodiment of a bottle cap 7 according to the present invention is shown to be substantially similar to the first preferred embodiment. However, in this embodiment, the latch ring portion 72 further has a plurality of connecting strips 727. Each adjacent pair of the retaining fins 722 are formed respectively and integrally with two opposite sides of a respective one of the connecting strips 727, and cooperate with the lower peripheral margin 721 and the respective one of the connecting strips 727 to define a through hole 728, which facilitates upward bending of the assembly of the retaining fins 722 during formation of the bottle cap 7. The third preferred embodiment is used in a manner that is substantially similar to that of the first preferred embodiment.

[0027] While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

We claim:
 1. A bottle cap adapted to cover an upper end opening in a neck of a bottle, the neck having an outer surface that is formed with an integral annular flange, said bottle cap comprising: a cover body adapted to be sleeved on the neck of the bottle and adapted to cover the opening in the bottle; a latch ring portion connected to and disposed under said cover body, said latch ring portion having a lower peripheral margin that is formed integrally with a plurality of molded retaining fins, which extend upwardly and inwardly therefrom and which are arranged along a circumferential direction of said latch ring portion, said retaining fins having upper ends that are adapted to be disposed under and that are adapted to be disposed adjacent to the flange of the bottle so as to prevent removal of said cap from the neck of the bottle, each of said retaining fins having a pair of inclined inner and outer side surfaces, one of which is formed with a plurality of integral reinforcing ribs that are spaced apart from one another along the circumferential direction of said latch ring portion; and a plurality of frangible tabs for interconnecting integrally said cover body and said latch ring portion.
 2. The bottle cap of claim 1, wherein each of said reinforcing ribs is wedge-shaped.
 3. The bottle cap of claim 1, wherein each adjacent pair of said retaining fins are spaced apart from each other.
 4. The bottle cap of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of connecting strips, each adjacent pair of said retaining fins being formed respectively and integrally with two opposite sides of a respective one of said connecting strips. 